Judo’s Antoine Paul stands alone amid generational shift: “I will win back-to-back AG titles”
The judo roster at the Hangzhou Asian Games is very different from previous editions.
With the retirement of a number of medal-winning weight classes at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, it’s time for a generation change.
Kim Sung-min, the gold medalist in the men’s 100-plus kilogram category at the Jakarta-Palembang Games, passed the police specialty exam to start a new life after retirement, while Ahn Chang-rim, who won silver in the men’s 73-kg category at the same event, retired after winning bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Cho Gu-ham, the men’s 100-kilogram silver medalist at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, also retired shortly after Tokyo.
Gold medalists Lee Jung-kyung in the women’s 48kg and Kwak Dong-han in the men’s 90kg did not make the team this year.
The Hangzhou Asian Games, which begin next month, will be the first international competition for the newly reorganized Korean judo team.
There is one athlete who is holding his own despite the changes. Men’s 66kg Ganpan An Paul (29, Namyangju City Hall).
A silver medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, and a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the “pride of Korean judo” has remained unperturbed by the retirements and failures of his teammates.
He also showed his mettle at the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Championships in October last year, winning a bronze medal.
He is the national team’s “favorite” to win the Hangzhou Asian Games.
His “know-it-all” upkicks are considered the best in his weight class, and his Akbari-like will to win and stamina are among the best in the world.
If Anbaul can deliver, he has the potential to win back-to-back titles at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
When we met at the Jincheon National Athletes’ Village in Chungcheongbuk-do on Thursday, he exuded confidence.
“It won’t be easy, but I really want to win back-to-back Asian Games titles,” he said. “My skills have been exposed to a lot of other players, so I’m going to try to come up with new ways of playing and techniques that my opponents don’t think about.”
“My first goal is to take good care of my body in the time left before the tournament starts so that I can compete in the best possible condition.”
In fact, Anvaul’s fitness is far from perfect. He tore a muscle in his left inner thigh (hamstring) in training earlier this month and has been recovering for some time.
The pain still lingers, preventing him from carrying out a normal training program.
“I have a plan for the rest of the year to prepare for the Hangzhou Asian Games,” said Anbaul, “and I’m preparing to perform at my best despite the pain. I am confident.”
Anbaul sees the Hangzhou Asian Games as a precursor to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
He hopes to win back-to-back titles at the Games to build momentum and then use the momentum to win his first Olympic gold medal.
“I was disappointed not to win gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020,” he said, 카지노사이트넷 “so I’m going to live and die for the rest of the year.”